Portable printing device



1941- G. G. GRUETTNER PORTABLE PRINTING DEVICE Filed May 1'5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l ,INVENTOR GL-RHAED 6, GEM 577N152 %on 712 W147 PATENT AGENT E I s & g; A

1941- G. G. GRUETTNER PORTABLE PRINTING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEE/MRO 6. 621/5 TTNER PATENT AGENT 7, 1941- G. G. GRUETTNER PORTABLE PRINTING DEVICE Filed May 16, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GEEHAED 6. GEUL' TTA/EE BY /fi@w 775W PATENT AGENT Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention generally relates to printing devices of the portable type and more particularly to a check-signing equipment for use by banks, industrial concerns, etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an efii-cient, practical and economical portable electric device of the above nature for prin ing indicia or the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to incorporate in such a device means to maintain in operative position an indicia carrying plate, as, for example, a signature plate, employed preferably for check-signing purposes, which plate is so located as to prevent tampering therewith.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to lockingly position said plate in the frame of the device.

Yet another object of the present invention resides in the provision of automatic feeding means for the printing ribbon to enable reverse rotary movement of the printing ribbon during its operation and at predetermined period.

It is a still further object of the present invention to incorporate in said automatic means a pair of carriers for said ribbon controlled by a regulating mechanism to properly feed said ribbon from one carrier to the other and to predeterminedly reverse said ribbon movement.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide feelers cooperating with the portions of the ribbon on said carriers which feelers make operative the reversal of said ribbon movement.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means to momentarily maintain contact between signature plate, check paper and ribbon in order to achieve a clear and strong impression of the indicia to be transferred to the paper.

It is a further purpose of the invention to provide switching means to interrupt operation of the machine either combined with or independent of the plate locking mechanism.

Accordingly, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts, all as will be illustratively set forth in the following description, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

With these and other objects in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawings one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front end view of a printing device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view partly in section showing one of the locking mechanisms;

Fig. 3 is a rear end view of the device, shown in Fig. 1; 7

Figs. 4 and 5 are two diiierent diagrams showing electrical connections employable in the said device;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view in diagrammatic form of a combined locking mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings which show one of the various possible examples for carrying out the invention, there is disclosed a housing Iii comprising a base I I, side walls l2, l3, respectively, and a cover M which extends substantially from the front across the top and rear to the base I l as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Side walls I2 and [3 have longitudinal horizontal cut-outs l5, I6 in which protrudes a platform I"! "secured by any suitable means, such as set screws (not shown) to lugs l8 extending outwardly from the side Walls [2, l3.

Platform I! has a cut-out I9 which extends from the rear edge thereof to an edge of the platform within the limits of the said side walls, thus providing a free space for the operating mechanism as hereinafter described. The remaining portion 2| of the platform I! is utilized as a support for the paper to be imprinted or embossed during operation of the device. One

of the extending lateral portions of said platform I! carries a slide 22 which is adjustable with respect to the platform as by means of set screws 23.

Slide 22 has at its inner end a transverse bar 24 forming an abutment and guide for the paper the indicia plate 2'! which is slidabiy insertable into the slid'eway 28.

Platen 25 is supported on a plunger 29 vertically extending within the winding (not shown) of and forming the core of a solenoid 3G in a casing 3i. Across the top of solenoid casing 3| is placed a cover plate 32 secured to inwardly extending side wall flanges 33 as by means of screws 34. Plate 32 has a perforation 35 through which extends from the underside of platen 25 and for guidance pin 36. Platen 25 is provided on its top face with a cushion plate or pad 31 made of any suitable material.

Secured to base H at the slot 39, by means of screws 4|, is a block 46. Block 49, the extension 45 of the casing 3| have aligned slots 40' and 44. Plunger core 29 projects through casing 3| and extends beyond the same and within base slot 39 when the platen 25 is in inoperative position. This extended portion of the core 29 also has a slot 29 in alignment with the aforementioned slots 46' and 44. Pivoted about pin 4| in block slot 48 is a lever arm 42, which extends from said block slot through plunger core slot 29' in which said arm is pivotally fixed as by means of pin 43. The free end of arm 42 is pivotally connected at 46 with a rod 41 which projects upwardly in the machine housing.

Vertical movement of core or plunger 29 is controlled by the field excitation of said solenoid 30, the latter being in turn controlled by means of a switch arrangement hereinafter fully described.

It is evident that vertical upward movement of plunger 29 will cause swinging movement of arm 42 about pivot 4| which latter motion is translated through rod 47 to a lever 48. Spring 49 having one of its ends attached to leverage 48 and its other end being secured to base H by means of bracket 56 and lug urges return movement of plunger 29 when the switch cuts off the current supply to the solenoid 8U.

Lever 48 has a reduced portion 52 to which said spring 49 is attached at 53 and rod 41 at 54, and an enlarged portion 55 the free end of which is fixed to a shaft 56 journaled in bearing 51 formed in upwardly extending brackets 58 which may form part of an abutment plate 59 secured to inwardly protruding lugs 60 of side walls l2, l3.

Abutment plate 59 is provided with upwardly extending pairs of lugs 6|, 6|, 62, 62, respectively. In the rear of 6| and 62 and spaced therefrom are also upwardly extending lugs 63, 64, the height of which is somewhat less than that of lugs 6| 62. Journaled in the pair of lugs 6|, 6| and the lug 63 is a shaft 65 upon which is rolled one end of the ribbon 26, the other end of said ribbon being rolled upon another shaft 66 journaled in the lugs 62, 62' and lug 64.

Interposed between lugs BI and 63 and fixed to shaft 65 is a ratchet wheel 67 engageable by a dog 68 pivoted to an arm 69 the free end of which is pivoted to lug 6|, the other end of which arm is provided with an elongated slot 18 through which projects the reduced portion 52 of lever 48. Interposed between lugs 62' and 64 and fixed to shaft 66 is another ratchet wheel 6'! engageable by a dog 68 mounted for pivotal movement on arms 69, the free end of which is pivoted at lug 62', the other end of which arm is provided with an elongated slot 70 through which projects the reduced portion 52 of lever 48.

Between arm 69 and enlarged portion 55 of lever 48 there is provided on said reduced portion 52 a shield plate 1| which slides with said lever 48 upwardly and downwardly during operation of said machine. Plate H is laterally guided in an angle piece 12 which is placed on the abutment plate 59 and fixed thereto. Abutment plate 59 has a recess 14, and portion 15 of angle piece 12 is provided with a slot 16 the end of which is somewhat enlarged to laterally guide therein said aforementioned plate 1| and within said recess 74.

The upwardly directed portion 16 of angle piece i2 is slotted at 11 to permit guidance of the enlarged portion 55 of lever 48 therein, when said lever 48 achieves its movements during operation. Pivoted to portion 16, as at 18, 18' are respective bell crank levers I9, 19' the free ends of which are provided with angularly bent portions 80, 89 and 8|, 8|. Portions 60 and 8| are flat and adapted to contact rolled ribbon parts 82, 82 on shafts 65, 66. To this end, a spring 83 which is secured at 84 to upwardly extending angle piece portion 16 engages with its free and bent ends said bell crank levers I9, 19 to permanently urge their flattened portions and 8| to rest on ribbon parts 82, 82.

Shield plate carries pivotally (at 73) attached thereto a rocker 85 for a purpose hereinafter further described. Rocker 85 which is substantially triangular in shape has an outwardly extending pin 86 at its apex 81, which pin is adapted to engage selectively the legs 88, 88 of a U-shaped spring member 89, the latter being fixed to an extension 96, as by means of set screw 9|, of a bar 92 which pivotally connects with the ends of said dogs 68, 68' whereas the free ends of said dogs are selectively engageable with the aforementioned ratchet wheels 61, 61.

On shield plate H there extends a pin 93 to which is fixed one end of a helical spring 94, the other end thereof being attached to said pin 86 of said rocker 85. The purpose of this spring 94 is to maintain said rocket 85 in either of its extreme positions when thrown as about to be described.

Bell crank levers l9, 19 have as aforesaid the portions 80, 8| the ends of which are inturned toward the rocker 85 the latter carrying two pins 95, 96 in the vicinity of said portions 89, 8|. These pins 95, 96 are respectively engageable with the inturned portions 86, 8| by which the rocker 85 is swung or thrown about its pivot 13 into a position in which it is further on maintained by the action of said spring 94.

The above described arrangement is designed for forwardly moving the ribbon and winding it on one of said shafts and automatically reversing said ribbon movement after one of the flattened portions 80, 8| functioning as feeler means reaches its lowermost position predetermined by the depletion of the said ribbon on its respective shaft. When one of said feeler portions 80, 8| reaches said lowermost position the respective bent portion of the corresponding bell crank lever is swung into the path of the corresponding pin of the rocker 85 which performs an upand down-movement together with shield plate 1| during printing operation, and thus tipping or throwing rocker 85 into its opposite extreme position in which the pin 86 engages with a respective leg of U-member 89 and then throwing the lever bar 92 in an opposite direction to bring the respective dog into engagement with its adjacent ratchet wheel.

Fig. 3 shows clearly one extreme position of rocker 85 in which engagement of dog 68 with ratchet wheel 61 is made, while pin 86 engages with leg 88' of U-shaped member 89, thus keeping the other dog 68' out of engagement with its adjacent ratchet wheel 61'. The other extreme position of rocker 85 is indicated by the dotted pin 86' in Fig. 3.

In order to facilitate maintenance of rocker 85 in its respective extreme positions rocker 85 is cut out at its bottom portion to provide the stops 95, 96 against movement of said rocker 85 until the latter is thrown from one to the other extreme position.

attach The device will be further described in connection with the operation of the machine which follows:

Plate 21 which carries indicia or characters II6 to be imprinted or embossed is slidably inserted into slideways 26 and locked into position, for which latter purpose plate 21 is provided with a perforation I00. Pivotally mounted on abutment plate 59 on lug 62 at IOI is a lever arm I02 which has an arcuate end portion I03 to clear shaft bearing 65'. Portion I03 (Fig. 2) has an inwardly directed extension I04 for engagement with a pin I05 secured to a lug I06. Lug E06 is fixed to a shaft I01 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing I08 provided in the side wall I2. Lug I06 has a further pin I09 utilized as a stop against abutments IIO, III provided on bearing sleeve H2 to limit swinging movement of lug Hi6 and thereby rotatable movement of shaft i? so that pin I may be selectively maintained in engaged or disengaged position with respect to lever extension I04. Lever arm I02 has pivoted to it at II3 a downwardly directed pin H4 which is adapted to register with said plate perforation E60 when said plate 21 is placed in operative position in said slideway 28 and this registry is brought about by rotation of shaft I61 as by means of a key H5 inserted within a suitable lock H6 of which shaft 101 forms part. Pin H t is encompassed by expansion spring II1 interposed between lever arm I02 and top surface of abutment plate 59.

Now, when spring H1 is in expanded position lever arm I02 is in raised position and plate 21 may be removed for pin I I4 is not in engagement with perforation I00. When, however, by turning key H5 until pin I05 throws lever extension I04 and thereby lever I02 downwardly in direction indicated by arrow (Fig. 1) pin II4 will register with and protrude within perforation I00, thereby locking plate 21 in its operative position against action of spring I I1. It is evident that by turning key H5 in an opposite direction to that aforementioned, plate 21 may be removed, since pin H4 is thereby withdrawn from perforation I00 of plate 21 and retracted within perforation of abutment plate 59.

Plate 21 carries indicia M6 on its undersurface adjacent ribbon 26 (Fig. 1). Now, by inserting a check or other paper P with one of its edges along guide 24 and by turning key II8 of electric switch I 50 the device is made ready for operation. This switch H9 may be of any conventional type and design, its purpose being to complete an electrical circuit which includes solenoid 30 in accordance with Figs. 4 and 5 which show diagrams of the wiring connections.

Fig. 4 which shows a simplified wiring system discloses the solenoid 30 which Vertically moves upwardly plate 25 through core 29 when switch lock II9 is rotated so that cam IE9 is in engagement with terminal I of the power supply line thus coming in contact with switch element I2I. By now moving paper P along the oblique guide 24 on platform I1 and against switch lever I22, the latter being pivoted at I23 to an extension I24 of the solenoid casing 3I (Fig. 6), the said lever i 22 will be swung rearwardly by the paper edge abutting the nose I25 of the said lever, and thus causing insulated finger I26 which is pivoted to the lower extremity of lever I 22 at I21 and engaging spring switch element I28, to contact the stationary switch element I29 for completing the circuit and thus energizing solenoid 30. Finger I26 has a reduced free end portion forming Ta noseI30 which protrudes through an opening I3I of switch element I28. Core 29 carries as aforesaid an arm 42 provided with a pin I32. When core 29 is moved upwardly (after the said circuit is closed) pin I32 abuts the nose I30 of finger I26 and swings the latter upwardly about pivot I 21 and thus tripping element I 28 free from abutting engagement with finger I26 and breaking the circuit between contact elements I28 and I29.

When the solenoid 30 is energized the platen 25 is forced upwardly carrying with it on its upper surface the paper to be imprinted against ribbon 26 which latter is then pressed against the relief of the indicia thus producing a true replica thereof on the paper.

By breaking said contact between I28, I29 solenoid 30 is deenergized and spring 49 brings platen 25 with the paper P out of engagement with ribbon 26 into its normal inoperative position.

After the impression has been made the paper P is withdrawn from platen 25 and platform I1, thus causing lever I22 to swing back by means of spring I33 (Fig. 6) fixed on pivot I23 and making ready the switch arrangement I26 to I32 for again energizing the solenoid 36 for the next impression. Finger I26 will then assume the position shown in Figs. 4 and 6 (in full lines) with the wall I54 of said finger I26 engageable with the adjacent surface of element I28 while nose 536 protrudes again through slotted opening I3I.

In practice it may be found necessary to retard the breaking off of the solenoid circuit to allow sufficient lapse of time to permit a complete and thorough impression of the indicia upon the paper, that is, to produce a lag in the circuit. To this end, provision is made, as shown in Fig. 5, of an arrangement comprising three separate switches I35, I36 and I31. Switch I36 is similar to switch shown in Fig. 4 comprising the contact elements I28, I29. Switch I36 is the make-switch for a relay circuit which includes switch I31. Switch element I29 is connected to the solenoid 3 0 and to one leg I38 of power line and is further connected to the switch element I39 of switch M5, which is the breaking-switch. The other contact element I48 of switch I35 is resilient and is connected to a terminal I4I of relay switch 31. Another terminal I42 of said relay switch is connected to the solenoid 30 through lead I43.

Resilient switch element I28 is connected to one terminal I44 of the winding of said relay switch, the other terminal I45 of said winding being connected to a terminal I46 of the main locking switch II9 which corresponds to the locking switch II9 (Fig. 3), the other terminal 541 of said switch being connected to the other leg I48 of the power line.

Swingably connected to the relay I31 at I49 is an armature I50 adapted to make electrical contact with terminal I42 upon energization of relay I31; and swingably connected at I44 is another armature I5! which is adapted to make electrical contact with terminal I 4| upon said relay I31 being energized.

It will be assumed that switch H9 is made operative so as to close the contact between blade I52 and terminal Hi6 and that the paper P has been inserted thereby swinging arm I22 compelling contact between elements I28, I29 of switch I30 in a manner heretofore described with respect 'to Fig. 4. This will cause energization of the relay circuit I48, I41, I52, I46, I45, I50, i5I, I44, I28, I29, I33, at the same time energizing solenoid 30. Energization of the latter causes upward movement of platen 25 until it reaches its uppermost position engaging thereby abutment I53 and raising switch arm I40, opening switch I35 and breaking the circuit. Before this occurs switch I35 has been opened because contact elements I28, I29 have been separated in a manner heretofore described with respect to Fig. 4.

Although the circuit in which switch I36 having said contact elements I28, I29 is placed, was just opened, the circuit including leads I48, I4?, I52, I45, I45, I50, I42, I43, solenoid 30, I33 and leads I48, I41, I52, I46, I45, I44, II, I4I, I40, I39, I28, I38 is still closed until the circuit breaking switch I35 is opened which will take place when platen comes in contact with abutment I53, that is, in the uppermost position of platen 25 when a complete and thorough impression is performed by the latter. Upon engagement of platen 25 with abutment I53, switch I is opened and relay switch I3I is thus deenergized, as well as the solenoid 3D.

Platen 25 will thereafter return to its initial inoperative position through action of spring 49, ready to be raised again upon actuation of lever I 22 by insertion of another paper upon which an impression is to be made.

Fig. 7 shows a modified and combined electric and plate lock arrangement which consists of a member I having a cam I5I at one of its ends and a pin I52 (similar to pin I05) at its other end. Member I50 corresponds to part I06 of Fig. 2. Member I50 is rotatable with shaft I53 in such manner that by rotation of shaft I53 r (as by means of a lock key, not shown) cam I5I will break contact between elements I20, I2I whereas pin I52 disengages from lever I04 and thus permitting unlocking of indicia plate 21 from pin IE4 as hereinbefore described.

Of course, it is understood that locking of plate 2'! will take place when member I50 is returned to the position indicated in Fig. '7.

It is further understood, that a counter and a date stamp (not shown) may be provided in order to keep record of the number and dating of checks etc. impressed with the indicia. A conventional counter I may be positioned at the front part of the device, as on a plate IBI and may be actuated through a leverage I62 by shaft 55, with which said leverage is connected. Lever I63 forming part of leverage I5I is fixed to shaft 55, so that when impression is made by lifting lever 48 (Fig. 6) shaft 58 will then be swung and thus movement thereof will be trans- I ferred to lever I63 and leverage I6I for the conventional actuation of counter I60.

The device is protected against mishandling, dust and injury by a cover I4 which is made removable and may be locked to the base II by a a acter described possessing the particular features of advantages before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described having a reciprocably movable platen; a removably arranged element carrying printing indicia, an electric circuit including switch means, a controller and electric means for operating said platen, and common actuating means adapted to lock said element in position and to concurrently close said switch means, said controller being adapted to operate said electric means in said electric circuit when said switch means has been previously closed by said actuating means.

2. In a device of the character described having a reciprocably movable platen; a removably arranged element carrying printing indicia, an electric circuit including switch means, a controller and a solenoid having a plunger for operating said platen, and common actuating means adapted to lock said element in position and to concurrently close said switch means, said controller being adapted to operate said solenoid in said electric circuit when said switch means has been previously closed by said common actuating means.

3. In a device of the character described having a reciprocably movable platen; a removably arranged element carrying printing indicia and having an opening, an electric circuit including switch means, a controller and electric means for operating said platen, a leverage extending between said switch means and said element, and common means adapted to actuate said leverage whereby a portion of the latter registers with said opening of said element to lock the same in position, whereas another portion of said leverage engages with said switch means to concurrently close the same, said controller being adapted to operate said electric means in said electric circuit when said switch means has been previously closed by said common actuating means.

4. In a device of the character described having a reciprocably movable platen; a removably arranged element carrying printing indicia and having an opening, an electric circuit including switch means, a controller and electric means for operating said platen, a leverage extending between said switch means and said element, and key controlled common means adapted to actuate said leverage whereby a portion of the latter registers with said opening of said element to lock the same in position, whereas another portion of said leverage engages with said switch means to concurrently close same, said controller being adapted to operate said electric means in said electric circuit when said switch means has been previously closed by said key controlled common means.

GERHARD G. GRUETTNER. 

